Pro Team Sports

Whether it was one of the cheating “gates” — Spygate or Deflategate — or simply the fact that sports fans don’t like teams that always win (unless it’s their own), a lot of people do not like Belichick, Brady and company.

So on Sunday, the rest of the fans — the ones who aren’t true Patriots or recent bandwagon fans — sat, shocked as they watched the Falcons rise up and take control of the game.

It really felt like they had it.

Then everything changed.

Some will call the Patriots’ comeback on Sunday the greatest ever.

Others will look at it as the Falcons having the worst collapse ever.

Before things fell apart for Atlanta, the Falcons had put on a thrilling performance at NRG Stadium.

Then the Falcons had that miserable drive — one that concluded after Ryan was sacked for a big loss, then they were called for holding. It was drive that could have sealed the deal. A field goal would have made it a two-possession game.

Three points would have made the fact that the Patriots had clawed back from being down 28-3 at one point a moot point.

Instead, Atlanta finished the drive with a punt and put the ball in Brady’s hands with 3:30 to play.

Even when the game went to overtime, there was hope.

But the coin toss went the Patriots’ way and the life was sucked out of half the crowd.

It’s going to be hard to remember Grady Jarrett’s three sacks, a couple of stellar Julio Jones catches, those big breakthrough runs from Devonta Freeman.

“We did a lot of good things,” coach Dan Quinn said. “We stayed competitive. We knew it would come down to the end of the game, but we felt like we could compete and we could win.”

Those won’t stick the way the collapse did.

The defense looking worn out, the play-calling missing the mark, the silly penalties. Those are going to stand out more.

In a few years, this game will only be known for the greatest comeback ever. It will be the game football historians point to when they talk about how the Patriots solidified their legacy.

Brady holding the trophy, confetti falling from the rafters, history being made.